COUNCIL bosses have admitted the recycling scheme isn't working everywhere.

Though they are delighted with the way residents have thrown their weight behind the programme and say the number of inquiries has dropped considerably, they admit properties in some 'hard-to-reach' rural areas are still experiencing collection problems.

Jane Smith, who lives with her family in Little Budworth, said her green wheelie bin had not been emptied for four weeks.

'Since the scheme started I have had it picked up once,' she said. 'They missed it once so they came out specially.

'I have a wheelie bin and three bags tied up with it. Last weekend was a long weekend and I have got more rubbish. I'm buying decent bin bags to put them in, which is extra expense.

'There's vermin around, animals, foxes, and my bags are going to be ripped open if I don't take them in every night. I live up a lane, but other people find us so why can't the wheelie bin driver find us?'

She said she had phoned Vale Royal's helpline 'about 10 times now'.

'They all take my name, address, phone number and say they'll get back to me,' she said. 'They have never ever returned my phone call. Why in this day and age on a computer screen is my complaint not coming up?

'I'm just very, very frustrated that it's a simple thing that nobody can manage to do.

'If it doesn't get picked up soon I shall go even more mad and I'm not a mad person really. My friends and family just think it's horrendous.'

Malcolm Gaskill, lead councillor for waste, said: 'The problems being experienced by those people in hard-to-reach rural areas are being treated as a priority and we are working hard with our contractors to resolve these missed collections as a matter or urgency.

'We do sympathise with residents who are experiencing difficulties and will do everything in our power to resolve them.'